Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
God can do amazing things. Isaiah gives Hezekiah a death sentence here, only to have God heal Hezekiah. We have seen this kind of thing all the time. Something terrible is about to happen, and God intervenes and prevents that horrible thing. This is not to say that bad things do not happen, because they do. This is simply to say that God is able to do amazing things. We need to be reminded of that from time to time. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Pastor Josh on Vacation
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
I will be on vacation from the night of Thursday, May 26, 2011 through Monday, May 30, 2011. There will be no posting while I am gone. Posting will resume on May 31, 2011. If you need anything while I am away please contact one of the church elders. A representative from Gideons International will be preaching on Sunday, May 29, 2011. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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I will be on vacation from the night of Thursday, May 26, 2011 through Monday, May 30, 2011. There will be no posting while I am gone. Posting will resume on May 31, 2011. If you need anything while I am away please contact one of the church elders. A representative from Gideons International will be preaching on Sunday, May 29, 2011. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Sunday Scripture and Sermon
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is Mark 4: 1-20, in which Jesus gives the Parable of the Sower. The sermon will be delivered by a member of Gideons International. I hope you are all able to make it to church. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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The Scripture passage for this Sunday is Mark 4: 1-20, in which Jesus gives the Parable of the Sower. The sermon will be delivered by a member of Gideons International. I hope you are all able to make it to church. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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2 Kings 19: 20-37; Isaiah Prophesies Sennacherib’s Fall
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is always better to hear something said out loud by someone else. The Israelites had been given the promise that they would be delivered from Sennacherib, but to hear Isaiah, the great prophet, talk about it filled them with such hope and peace. In this passage we are reminded of the necessity to surround ourselves with brothers and sisters in Christ. In so doing we receive the hope and encouragement we might sometimes need. God is good, and he loves us so much. And in his love for us he has given us each other. However you choose to do it make sure you are a part of the body of Christ. It can help more than you know. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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It is always better to hear something said out loud by someone else. The Israelites had been given the promise that they would be delivered from Sennacherib, but to hear Isaiah, the great prophet, talk about it filled them with such hope and peace. In this passage we are reminded of the necessity to surround ourselves with brothers and sisters in Christ. In so doing we receive the hope and encouragement we might sometimes need. God is good, and he loves us so much. And in his love for us he has given us each other. However you choose to do it make sure you are a part of the body of Christ. It can help more than you know. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Wednesday, May 25, 2011
2 Kings 19: 14-19; Hezekiah’s Prayer
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayer should be heartfelt, not formulaic. Prayer is a time for us to come before God's thorne and lay everything at his feet. We are to be honest with God about what we want, how we are feeling, etc. Through Jesus we are blessed to have a personal relationship with God, to be able to come before God in prayer and talk to him about whatever is on our hearts. Hezekiah does that here. He prays to God from his heart. We should always do the same. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Prayer should be heartfelt, not formulaic. Prayer is a time for us to come before God's thorne and lay everything at his feet. We are to be honest with God about what we want, how we are feeling, etc. Through Jesus we are blessed to have a personal relationship with God, to be able to come before God in prayer and talk to him about whatever is on our hearts. Hezekiah does that here. He prays to God from his heart. We should always do the same. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Tuesday, May 24, 2011
2 Kings 19: 1-13; Jerusalem’s Deliverance Foretold
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
There is always hope. Jerusalem, the City of God, is under siege, surrounded by countless enemies. And yet, in the midst of all that God gives the promise that everything is going to be ok; the enemy is going to be defeated, and the Israelites are going to be delivered. When struggles come it is hard, sometimes impossible, to see light at the end of the tunnel. But that is a promise we all have: that God will deliver us. He may not do when we want, or even in a way we expect, but God will always deliver us from the struggles we face. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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There is always hope. Jerusalem, the City of God, is under siege, surrounded by countless enemies. And yet, in the midst of all that God gives the promise that everything is going to be ok; the enemy is going to be defeated, and the Israelites are going to be delivered. When struggles come it is hard, sometimes impossible, to see light at the end of the tunnel. But that is a promise we all have: that God will deliver us. He may not do when we want, or even in a way we expect, but God will always deliver us from the struggles we face. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Monday, May 23, 2011
2 Kings 18: 17-37; Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hope is a difficult thing to find, especially when it seems as if you have none. The people of Jerusalem are in a panic because their city is about to be invaded. Their faith is shaken. In our lives sometimes we are besieged by Assyrians. We find ourselves in difficult situations and our faith begins to come into play. Whether it holds or folds it will be tested. When that happens one of the only things we may be able to do is pray and ask God for help. When the world is closing in around us; when it seems like there is nothing we can do; then we can still pray and rely on God and his love for us. No matter what comes your way: "Be courageous and strong, for the Lord is always with you." God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Hope is a difficult thing to find, especially when it seems as if you have none. The people of Jerusalem are in a panic because their city is about to be invaded. Their faith is shaken. In our lives sometimes we are besieged by Assyrians. We find ourselves in difficult situations and our faith begins to come into play. Whether it holds or folds it will be tested. When that happens one of the only things we may be able to do is pray and ask God for help. When the world is closing in around us; when it seems like there is nothing we can do; then we can still pray and rely on God and his love for us. No matter what comes your way: "Be courageous and strong, for the Lord is always with you." God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Sunday, May 22, 2011
2 Kings 18: 1-16; Hezekiah King of Judah
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
I'm sure you've all heard the adage, 'if it sounds too good to be to true, it probably is.' That phrase came into my mind as I read about Hezekiah, because he sounds like quite the person. But before we get to skeptical let us think about the life we have now, and the opportunity we have been given to live a life that is please to God. We can all live a life like Hezekiah, if we are willing to be obedient to God's will. 'If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is' is not a phrase that applies to Christians because we have been given the freedom to live a good life. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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I'm sure you've all heard the adage, 'if it sounds too good to be to true, it probably is.' That phrase came into my mind as I read about Hezekiah, because he sounds like quite the person. But before we get to skeptical let us think about the life we have now, and the opportunity we have been given to live a life that is please to God. We can all live a life like Hezekiah, if we are willing to be obedient to God's will. 'If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is' is not a phrase that applies to Christians because we have been given the freedom to live a good life. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Saturday, May 21, 2011
2 Kings 17: 24-41; Samaria Resettled
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
And this is why the Jews and Samaritans of Jesus' time do not get along. The Jews look at the Samaritans as infidels, while the Samaritans look at the Jews as vindictive hatemongers. Both parties judged each other harshly based on their geographic location and religious practices. Petty differences kept these two people apart. This should move us to look at our own prejudices, whether we are aware of them or not. God would love us love everyone, no matter what. We need to break down the walls that divide us and love each other as God would have us do. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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And this is why the Jews and Samaritans of Jesus' time do not get along. The Jews look at the Samaritans as infidels, while the Samaritans look at the Jews as vindictive hatemongers. Both parties judged each other harshly based on their geographic location and religious practices. Petty differences kept these two people apart. This should move us to look at our own prejudices, whether we are aware of them or not. God would love us love everyone, no matter what. We need to break down the walls that divide us and love each other as God would have us do. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Friday, May 20, 2011
2 Kings 17: 7-23; Israel Exiled Because of Sin
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The first paragraph of this passage really says it all in giving us a 'list' of Israel's sins. In short, they turned from God, and because of that they were punished. We are spared from this type of fate. Yes, we all sin, but Jesus has saved us from sin. Jesus has taken the punishment that should have been ours. Jesus has died on the cross that we might have salvation in our lives. We do not need to fear punishment: Jesus has been punished for us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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The first paragraph of this passage really says it all in giving us a 'list' of Israel's sins. In short, they turned from God, and because of that they were punished. We are spared from this type of fate. Yes, we all sin, but Jesus has saved us from sin. Jesus has taken the punishment that should have been ours. Jesus has died on the cross that we might have salvation in our lives. We do not need to fear punishment: Jesus has been punished for us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Thursday, May 19, 2011
Sunday Scripture and Sermon for May 22, 2011
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from Exodus 12: 31-42, in which the Israelites are finally allowed to leave the land of Egypt. The sermon it titled 'Follow the Leader' and will focus on how Israel needed to follow God where he was leading, despte how difficult it was. I hope to see you all in Church on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from Exodus 12: 31-42, in which the Israelites are finally allowed to leave the land of Egypt. The sermon it titled 'Follow the Leader' and will focus on how Israel needed to follow God where he was leading, despte how difficult it was. I hope to see you all in Church on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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2 Kings 17: 1-6; Hoshea Last King of Israel
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hoshea serves as the final king. He has to sit back and watch as his nation, part of the Promised Land, is taken over by another nation. How awful a feeling this must be for Hoshea, to know his sins, and the sins of all Israel, have been so great they are losing their most precious gift from God. Hoshea and Israel waited until it was too late. Only after they lost the Promised Land did they repent of their sins. We must be careful not to wait until it is too late. Yes, God's love is infinite; yes, God will give plenty of chances. But time will run out eventually, and we need to make sure we have all made that decison to surrender our entire lives to Christ: before it's too late. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Hoshea serves as the final king. He has to sit back and watch as his nation, part of the Promised Land, is taken over by another nation. How awful a feeling this must be for Hoshea, to know his sins, and the sins of all Israel, have been so great they are losing their most precious gift from God. Hoshea and Israel waited until it was too late. Only after they lost the Promised Land did they repent of their sins. We must be careful not to wait until it is too late. Yes, God's love is infinite; yes, God will give plenty of chances. But time will run out eventually, and we need to make sure we have all made that decison to surrender our entire lives to Christ: before it's too late. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Wednesday, May 18, 2011
2 Kings 16: 1-20; Ahaz King of Judah
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Stick to your guns, no matter what it may mean. Ahaz bends considerably when the Assyrians come knocking on the door. Ahaz turns his back on many of the things God has called Israel to do, because he found a better 'suitor.' Holding on to faith is not always an easy thing, espeically when the walls of the world are closing in around us. But in those times we simply need to be strong in the Lord, and continue to be obedient to his will. Bending to the ways of the world may seem like a good idea, but is it worth sacrificing your relationship with God? God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Stick to your guns, no matter what it may mean. Ahaz bends considerably when the Assyrians come knocking on the door. Ahaz turns his back on many of the things God has called Israel to do, because he found a better 'suitor.' Holding on to faith is not always an easy thing, espeically when the walls of the world are closing in around us. But in those times we simply need to be strong in the Lord, and continue to be obedient to his will. Bending to the ways of the world may seem like a good idea, but is it worth sacrificing your relationship with God? God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Tuesday, May 17, 2011
2 Kings 15: 32-38; Jotham King of Judah
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Clearly Jotham's faith was important to him. He rebuilt the Upper Gate at the Temple, and with all of the things he did for 16 years as King this act is mentioned here, underscoring its importance. Jotham's love for the Lord meant enough to him that others were able to see it. Everyone around him must of known of his faith. Do others know about your faith? If someone as going to describe you what would they mention? Would they mention your faith? Is your faith a significant enough part of your life that others recognize it? God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Clearly Jotham's faith was important to him. He rebuilt the Upper Gate at the Temple, and with all of the things he did for 16 years as King this act is mentioned here, underscoring its importance. Jotham's love for the Lord meant enough to him that others were able to see it. Everyone around him must of known of his faith. Do others know about your faith? If someone as going to describe you what would they mention? Would they mention your faith? Is your faith a significant enough part of your life that others recognize it? God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Monday, May 16, 2011
2 Kings 15: 27-31; Pekah King of Israel
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
What would a highlight reel of your life look like. Here we read about Pekah who 'did evil in the eyes of the Lord.' We get a brief glimpse of his life and the trouble he endured, but other than that brief glimpse, we do not know very much about him. These few words serve as a highlight reel of sorts, giving us the most significant details about Pekah's life. And the most significant detail: He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. If someone was to make a highlight reel of your life, what would it look like? God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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What would a highlight reel of your life look like. Here we read about Pekah who 'did evil in the eyes of the Lord.' We get a brief glimpse of his life and the trouble he endured, but other than that brief glimpse, we do not know very much about him. These few words serve as a highlight reel of sorts, giving us the most significant details about Pekah's life. And the most significant detail: He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. If someone was to make a highlight reel of your life, what would it look like? God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Thursday, May 12, 2011
2 Kings 15: 23-26; Pekahiah King of Israel
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
For one reason or another we never have the amount of time we want. Pekahiah only had two years as king, and those were filled with strife. In those two years I don't think he had the chance to accomplish very much. And even if he did his ability to accomplish anything was cut short. Our lives are short. We don't have time for everything, which means we need to make time for things. We need to be more aware of things so that we can get everything out of life that we possibly can. Time is short. Make your life, and your faith, count. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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For one reason or another we never have the amount of time we want. Pekahiah only had two years as king, and those were filled with strife. In those two years I don't think he had the chance to accomplish very much. And even if he did his ability to accomplish anything was cut short. Our lives are short. We don't have time for everything, which means we need to make time for things. We need to be more aware of things so that we can get everything out of life that we possibly can. Time is short. Make your life, and your faith, count. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Wednesday, May 11, 2011
2 Kings 15: 17-22; Menahem King of Israel
Grace and peace to you from Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Treasures on earth can only do so much. For Menahem money bought him a little bit of safety and security. However, Menahem's money was not able to square him with God. 2 Kings tells us that Menahem 'did evil in the eye of the Lord.' Even with all of his money he could not buy his salvation. Jesus tells us to store up for ourselves treasures in heaven. These are not just idle words, but words we should really keep in mind as we go through life. We need money for our lives, but the pursuit of that money should not be our main goal. Rather we should store up treasures in heaven by being obedient to God's will. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Treasures on earth can only do so much. For Menahem money bought him a little bit of safety and security. However, Menahem's money was not able to square him with God. 2 Kings tells us that Menahem 'did evil in the eye of the Lord.' Even with all of his money he could not buy his salvation. Jesus tells us to store up for ourselves treasures in heaven. These are not just idle words, but words we should really keep in mind as we go through life. We need money for our lives, but the pursuit of that money should not be our main goal. Rather we should store up treasures in heaven by being obedient to God's will. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Tuesday, May 10, 2011
2 Kings 15: 13-16; Shallum King of Israel
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
We get just a few cryptic hints about Shallum in this passage. We do not know very many of the details, but we can be sure he was not obedient to God's will. In a case like this we need to keep in mind that God has the final judgment. Someday God will judge everyone according to their sins. It is not up to us to decide who gets to go to heaven and who does not. All we can do is pray for people who are not on God's path, that through the grace of God they will be brought back to God's path. We should also pray that God will forgive them their sins, just as God has forgiven us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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We get just a few cryptic hints about Shallum in this passage. We do not know very many of the details, but we can be sure he was not obedient to God's will. In a case like this we need to keep in mind that God has the final judgment. Someday God will judge everyone according to their sins. It is not up to us to decide who gets to go to heaven and who does not. All we can do is pray for people who are not on God's path, that through the grace of God they will be brought back to God's path. We should also pray that God will forgive them their sins, just as God has forgiven us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Monday, May 9, 2011
2 Kings 15: 8-12; Zechariah King of Israel
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
There are two paths in front of us. One is the path we have laid out for ourselves. This path is the path of sin and selfish desires. This path leads to sadness, bitterness, anger, pain, suffering, etc. Then there is the path God has laid out for us. This is the path of grace and holiness. This path leads to salvation eternal life, love, fulfillment, etc. Zechariah chose the path of sin and selfish desires, and because of that he suffered in a great many ways and was ultimately killed. Which path will we choose? God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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There are two paths in front of us. One is the path we have laid out for ourselves. This path is the path of sin and selfish desires. This path leads to sadness, bitterness, anger, pain, suffering, etc. Then there is the path God has laid out for us. This is the path of grace and holiness. This path leads to salvation eternal life, love, fulfillment, etc. Zechariah chose the path of sin and selfish desires, and because of that he suffered in a great many ways and was ultimately killed. Which path will we choose? God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Sunday, May 8, 2011
2 Kings 15: 1-7; Azariah King of Judah
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"He makes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust." If there is one thing we learn from Scripture it's that there is a certain mysterious aspect to God. We do not always know or understand what God is doing, or why he does it. All we can do is continue to move forward down the path God has laid out for us. And no matter what happens we can know, beyond the shadow of any doubt, that the Lord will be with us every step of the way. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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"He makes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust." If there is one thing we learn from Scripture it's that there is a certain mysterious aspect to God. We do not always know or understand what God is doing, or why he does it. All we can do is continue to move forward down the path God has laid out for us. And no matter what happens we can know, beyond the shadow of any doubt, that the Lord will be with us every step of the way. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Saturday, May 7, 2011
2 Kings 14: 23-29; Jeroboam II King of Israel
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is always there to help. There was 'no one to help them [the Israelites]' so God stepped in and gave them a hand. We may not always feel God's presence in our lives, but he is always there. God is always alive and active in our lives, helping us to make it through the difficult times we sometimes face. Just as he was there for the people of Israel, so he is here for us now. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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God is always there to help. There was 'no one to help them [the Israelites]' so God stepped in and gave them a hand. We may not always feel God's presence in our lives, but he is always there. God is always alive and active in our lives, helping us to make it through the difficult times we sometimes face. Just as he was there for the people of Israel, so he is here for us now. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Friday, May 6, 2011
2 Kings 14: 1-22; Amaziah King of Judah
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
We should always opt for peace first. Jehoash makes a small effort at peace before conflict, and for that he should be commended. He knew the downside of war; he had seen it for years. He also recognizes that God does not want us to automatically jump in with swinging swords. No, Jesus calls us to peace; Jesus calls us to love one another. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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We should always opt for peace first. Jehoash makes a small effort at peace before conflict, and for that he should be commended. He knew the downside of war; he had seen it for years. He also recognizes that God does not want us to automatically jump in with swinging swords. No, Jesus calls us to peace; Jesus calls us to love one another. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Thursday, May 5, 2011
Sunday Scripture and Sermon for May 8, 2011
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from Exodus 3: 1-14, in which the Lord calls Moses to go to Egypt to deliver the Israelites from bondage. The sermon is titled 'Who Me?' and will focus on the doubts Moses had, as well as the doubts we have now about sharing the good news of Jesus with those around us. I hope to see you all in church on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from Exodus 3: 1-14, in which the Lord calls Moses to go to Egypt to deliver the Israelites from bondage. The sermon is titled 'Who Me?' and will focus on the doubts Moses had, as well as the doubts we have now about sharing the good news of Jesus with those around us. I hope to see you all in church on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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2 Kings 13: 10-25; Jehoash King of Israel
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
In his last moments Elisha is concerned with doing the Lord's work. He is not wrapping up his own affairs. He is not looking over his life wondering what might have been. No, Elisha works for the Lord until he has no breath left in his body. Elisha does not let impending death stand in the way of his service to God. We can learn something from Elisha here. We can look at him and be moved to work harder for God; to make God our number one priority. We can look at Elisha and then let nothing get in the way of our service to God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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In his last moments Elisha is concerned with doing the Lord's work. He is not wrapping up his own affairs. He is not looking over his life wondering what might have been. No, Elisha works for the Lord until he has no breath left in his body. Elisha does not let impending death stand in the way of his service to God. We can learn something from Elisha here. We can look at him and be moved to work harder for God; to make God our number one priority. We can look at Elisha and then let nothing get in the way of our service to God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Wednesday, May 4, 2011
2 Kings 13: 1-9; Jehoahaz King of Israel
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jehoahaz is given a second chance. In the first couple verses of this passage we are told Jehoahaz "did evil in the eyes of the LORD by following the sins of Jeroboam." But just a couple verses later we read "Then Jehoahaz sought the LORD’s favor, and the LORD listened to him." Despite his sins Jehoahaz is given another chance of a life with God. It is never too late for us to turn to God. He will always hold his loving arms open for us. All we have to do is accept his love and turn to him. No matter what we have done, said, or thought, God's love for us will never fade. Neither will his invitation for us to come to him. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Jehoahaz is given a second chance. In the first couple verses of this passage we are told Jehoahaz "did evil in the eyes of the LORD by following the sins of Jeroboam." But just a couple verses later we read "Then Jehoahaz sought the LORD’s favor, and the LORD listened to him." Despite his sins Jehoahaz is given another chance of a life with God. It is never too late for us to turn to God. He will always hold his loving arms open for us. All we have to do is accept his love and turn to him. No matter what we have done, said, or thought, God's love for us will never fade. Neither will his invitation for us to come to him. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Tuesday, May 3, 2011
2 Kings 12: 1-21; Joash Repairs the Temple
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Joash has the kind of priorities we all need to have. He collects a large amount of money from the people and rather than spend it on frivolous things he spends it on repairing the house of the Lord. Joash's faith is more important to him than anything else. And with that in mind he spend his time, and money, fixing the Temple. We need to center our lives on Christ. Yes, there are other things going on in our lives. Yes, there are bills to pay, etc. But there is also God. God was there before all things, he is here now, and he will be here in the future. The things of this earth will pass away, but God never will. With that in mind let us praise him and give him all we have to give. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Joash has the kind of priorities we all need to have. He collects a large amount of money from the people and rather than spend it on frivolous things he spends it on repairing the house of the Lord. Joash's faith is more important to him than anything else. And with that in mind he spend his time, and money, fixing the Temple. We need to center our lives on Christ. Yes, there are other things going on in our lives. Yes, there are bills to pay, etc. But there is also God. God was there before all things, he is here now, and he will be here in the future. The things of this earth will pass away, but God never will. With that in mind let us praise him and give him all we have to give. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Monday, May 2, 2011
2 Kings 11: 1-21; Athaliah and Joash
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the palace." This verse fits in very well with the most recent events in American and international history: Osama bin Laden has been killed. Many people are rejoicing at this news, but I find myself saddened by the fact that so many people are happy at the death of another, even though bin Laden was one of the most evil human beings to ever walk the earth. It is also sad that we, as God's children, are forced to resort to violence to make peace. What God wants is for this world to have peace. What God wants is for us to live in harmony and love with one another. Is it a good thing bin Laden is dead? Perhaps. But let us all take this event and make it a beginning of a new world for us all. Let us all work hard to stop violence in its tracks with the one thing proven to stop it: love (and forgiveness, too). God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the palace." This verse fits in very well with the most recent events in American and international history: Osama bin Laden has been killed. Many people are rejoicing at this news, but I find myself saddened by the fact that so many people are happy at the death of another, even though bin Laden was one of the most evil human beings to ever walk the earth. It is also sad that we, as God's children, are forced to resort to violence to make peace. What God wants is for this world to have peace. What God wants is for us to live in harmony and love with one another. Is it a good thing bin Laden is dead? Perhaps. But let us all take this event and make it a beginning of a new world for us all. Let us all work hard to stop violence in its tracks with the one thing proven to stop it: love (and forgiveness, too). God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Sunday, May 1, 2011
2 Kings 10: 18-36; Servants of Baal Killed
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jehu cannot escape sin. He is doing the Lord's work, as difficult as it is, and he seems to have a special relationship with God. Despite that, though, Jehu still gets caught up in the sins of his ancestors. No matter how good we think we are we all still sin and fall short of God's glory. Jehu reminds us of our own shortcomings. We have been saved; we have been restored to a right relationship with God. But even with those things we still sin. With that in mind, be humble before the Lord. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Jehu cannot escape sin. He is doing the Lord's work, as difficult as it is, and he seems to have a special relationship with God. Despite that, though, Jehu still gets caught up in the sins of his ancestors. No matter how good we think we are we all still sin and fall short of God's glory. Jehu reminds us of our own shortcomings. We have been saved; we have been restored to a right relationship with God. But even with those things we still sin. With that in mind, be humble before the Lord. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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